Apparatus for closing a nozzle or spout with a captive cap



p 3, 1963 v .1. c. PORCELLI 3,102;332

APPARATUS FOR cLosmc A NOZZLE 0R SPQUT WITH A CAPTIVE CAP Filed April 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1 INVENTOR. Jbhrz C, fiarcellz p 1963 J. c. PORCELLI 3402,332

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A NOZZLE OR SPOUT WITH A CAPTIVE CAP Filed April 29, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet s JNVENTOR Jhn C. Force/la WV W amm ward portion 44 of the wall 41 has no overhanging lip 42 and is gradually tapered and recessed or slotted as at 45 to receive a portion of the connecting link of the spout cap unit.

The vertical wall 41 and the overhanging ledge 42 do not extend to the front of the base 40 of the holder and thereby the front of the base has an open surface'39 so that the spout cap unit may he slid therein to occupy the position bestv shown in FIGURE 10. Automatic means may be provided for feeding the spout cap unit so that they engagethe holders 38. I E V E The supporting members 38 on the chain 20 are spaced from each other so that the spout, generally identified as t S, is positioned on the holder-T38 withthe connecting link, generally identified as L,-'extending over the forward side wall, with a portion of the link Lconfined in the recess 45 of the side wall, and the cap, generally identified as-C, extending forwardly of the holder memthe roller chain 20, as best shown in FIGURE 11. .A

pair of right angle brackets 46 spaced from each other are secured to the underside of the nozzle supporting member 38 by threaded bolts 47, and each of the legs of said brackets 46 is provided with a pair of openings which are secured to two adjacent cross-pins 24 on the roller chain, said brackets 46 being secured on the crosspins 24 by any conventional means, such as washers or by peening the ends of the pins. I I I The pins 24 are part of the conventional rollerphain, except that in the positions where they support the supporting members 38 they are of greater length than nor- M mally to accommodate the l -shaped brackets. Thus, as the endless chain moves along itcarries the nozzle supporting member 38 therewith.

As best shown in FIGURES 7 and 11, a longitudinally extending support bar 48 is positioned below the top horizontal travel of the chain 20 and said bar is suitably supported on the frame of the machine. This bar supports the chain as it moves horizontally along the top of the machine.

Pivotally or rockably supported adjacent the front end of the machine, andbest shown in FIGURE 7, is a rocker unit, generally indicated by the numeral 50, which in- .cludes a square-shaped block 52 whichis pivotally or U rockably supported on a horizontal shaft 54, in turn As best shown in'FIGURE 7, the roller 64 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 65, which shaft is supported on the framework, not shown. The roller 64 is power driven to rotate clockwise and engages the cap, as shown in FIGURE 7.

As'the cap C moves past the rocker arm it will be first seated against the neck of the spout and as the spout cap unitcontinues its movement downwardly the cap C will engage the roller 64 which is power driven, which roller in tur-n=will push the cap on the spout and cause the cap to uniformly close the spout and form a sealtightfit therewith, as shown by the'spout capunit positioned below the roller 64 in FIGURE 7.

As; the supporting member 38 continues to move downwardlywith the endless chain, the spout cap unit will be discharged from the supporting holder. 38, as will now be described, into a suitable storage receptacle, not

shown, Thesupporting holder 38 will then continue.

with the endless'chainthorizontally and then upwardly and then horizontally across the top where additional spout cap units are inserted as same is moved across the top; v v

Extending on opposite sides of the roller 64 are a pair of vertical guide bars 68 and 70, best shown in FIGURE 8, one of which is also shown in FIGURE 7. As the cap C in its initial'extended'position is moved forwardly, as shown at the top in FIGURE 7, it is positioned between Y the guide bars 68 and 70 and as the cap continues its movement from a horizontal to a vertical movement wherein it moves to its initial closing position and then to its final sealing position it is likewise confined in position between the two vertical guide bars 68 and 70. The

41;; lower end of the guide bars terminate below the roller 64, as shown in FIGURE 7, and the lower ends of said guide bars curve inwardly as at 68' and 70' from a vertical plane, as best shown in FIGURE 9.

. As the spout cap unit engages the lower end of the guide bars itwill push or slide the spout cap unit out of the supporting holder 38'as the front portion 39 of said holder is unobstructed. The sealed spout cap unit' drops into a storage container or the like, not shown." FIGURE 9 shows one of the guide bars 68, however, the companion bar 70 has been omitted for the purpose of illustrating a wire guide member 72 positioned adjacent guide bar 70.

The wire guide member, generally designated at 72, is best shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10. The wire guide member 72 starts at the upper end of the machine, as best seen in FIGURE 10, and runs horizontally as at 73 so that it is positioned to lie adjacent and over the front end 39 of the base of the supporting holder 38 to prevent the spout cap unit from moving out of the holder during its with the endless belt from its horizontal to its generally I vertical position. The counterweight '57. normally main tains the arcuate shaped arm in the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 7. y, I

The underside of the arm 60 has a felt padding 62 to cushion the engagement of arm 60 with roller 64., As the spoutcap unit moves forwardly with the endless chain 20, the cap C will bepositioned over theforward end of the arm 60, as shown at the top in FIGURE 7, and as said spout cap unit moves downwardly the cap C will engage the top of the arm 60 and cause the rocker 50 and arm 60 to pivot so that the arm 'moves 'downwardly, as shown in the dotted line positions in FIGURE 7, until the'arm 60 engages a large roller 64 which limits its downward movement, and as the spout cap unit continues downwardly the cap will be caused to'slip down past the arm 60 and move inwardly against thetop of the spout S,

travel. The wire guide member 72 then is bent to extend ve'rtically'as at 74 and is thus positioned adjacent the guide bar 70, as best shown in FIGURE 8. Thus, the wire guide 72 will still retain the'spout cap unit as same moves vertically with the supporting holder 38. At the lower end the vertically extending wire guide is curved as at 75 so that it will not interfere with the discharge of the spout cap unit from the holder 38, as previously explained.

A verticallyextending backup bar 78, best shown in FIGURES 7 and 8,'is suitably secured to the frame (not shown) by fastening member 79. This bar is positioned in horizontal alinement with the roller 64 rearwardly of (the vertical travel of the endless roller chain. As the endless chain 20 moves vertically in relation to the roller 64, the cap'C engages the roller 64 and the backup bar 78 n will prevent the endless roller chain from moving rear- 82 and 83;,of which roller 82 is In positioning the spout 8 in of said rol-lez's is supportedona V 85, respectively, whichf'i turn is see not .shown. Directly hde r thef the endless pelt moves, I suppont secured and supporteduby'the fram I in FIGURE 1' fivith the iront p'ortl I voverwhich exposed. Ihe lipper end or neck the spout 'is'ex o s being sot-hat the cap may be secured to it as previously I seribedp v I 1 I i presenggt he'nozzle and capras a unit isge ectedi from the injectionv molding machine with the gap and nozzle, positionedwith respect toeach other; as best shown I I in FIGURE iQh eVer they may be positioned in other:

relative positions if'edesired'..:f1' he' spout condition is inserted into the holdergSSIo lof'unifor mly closin g an d sealing mhefcap' I .as previously describedso that it assumes} position shown iniFIGUREJ FIGURE 13 'showsthel spout cap -unit -seouredztoga can 1oreontainer after the can basbeen filied thr'ougb the ;top

'oi the can opening. Thus, after the. caxihas been filled the spout is secured thereto with ecayin sealed posiis.

jtionfar'id th e can is readyiorsbipnientE The ma'terialhor metal of thecanadjacentthe opening assume u 'avvardly and is secured withinthe annularreeess of tconventional means iorlmirrg nopart qfthis invention I Theapp'aratus herein 'flescribedxfor c I barrier' 92"with twotsidebar s 9 event the forward eflicient andspeedy in tha t -af -high ,rateot-icaps 'are ,tshiis travelgof the nozzle oapl llnits' o thexb e It, Y uniformly closed in a jsealtight fit iOl'lwtthe spout: I:

f'ltvvill be understoodithatqthe ut ciapunli It will be 'understooditi at various gchanges and'n od I i riented and automatically fe I fieations" maybemadeF fi-om thegforegoin-givvithout def i litriinatingithe'. need ofiian I operatorz parting from the spiri; t. a;nd scope otappencie'd 1 this'modific'ationthe rockerarni 60 pre us described 1. An apparatus iorciosing a's'po-ut Withaeaptivecap I 1i i ,t d l 'li u he 'fdf'm a i'fing I prior tdsecurement of the spout to ac'ontainerlivvithsaid 94jwhich is secured to the 'fra-m an ex nds in path, I capbeing permanently joined to said spout by a flexible f 'ihe travel of cap C. The C isfeijagedj by the v 1 link, said' apparatus includingmeansfforsupporting at o'liary fin ger 94 as the ca horizontal moving a spout a, captive cap as a, unit vgflhflh? I to its-vertical travel. l-{ flexibielink extended 'tospacethe caglaterally of the i IThe rollers 95'aud 97 arep'ower driven and are spaced p S pp yt said pp s and f from each other. A'stationary flat plate 96 is posi tioh'd {4 in the path of movement of S t n engagug said I Kbetweefi the'rollrs. After the can "s mo Ved to ooverr the unit for vbending said flexibleiink and moving sald cap n zzle through engagement of istationaryfijn e p 94 tocoverithesp pe g, and meansvfor ma yi I and thelcap moves pastthegfinge it will engage roller P s a d 31 OI /S SP Q m 3 S fi K95and1atabouttheaxisfofrolle the-clafi has been fl fe w fim i 3 I jiressed on the spoutto -a-uniform closing aha seal-tight 2. An apparatus'vfor qlo mea sp l p i ap I fit. wThe iplate 96 Wh ich'aIsO engages the cap prevfe nts the p ttg sewrement t sp t o me w a cap irom d-isengaging itself from'the nozzle. The'lovver pams p un g ly w e j sp t b fle br e {r ller 97 servesto effectfa seal-tightfirt r thecap oi thec n ec said pga ait m l ga qn y pl a -*3 1 n0zz1e,"'iffor' ny reason an imperfec fit 'has'previous1y' i y of o d g m y a c yo e c q o d been for niedl 1 H I .p' f-K adapted to retain the spout 'ofa spout'and captivecap Specific cb c b f h b u Q i Iwhih' lunit vvhilesaid' unit is being conveyed, means supgorted wherein iliustratedforms nppar t of this invent I1 21I1 d" y a rp a a d x p s- 1n e p t v v sameijsin'commercial production and sale; t it of mm ga smdp p as i w 1s Y m-s I Th p 5 gfla 15f m fi fo f 1 f-L 1 iorbencung sa1d fleX 1b1 e -connector and rnovmg said cap I eth ylene orsimilarv plasticmateriaiwhich 's senii-resilient; '55 to cover t Spout p msn g r -F iThe spout S has a body portionfiiprovidedwith an annular P on Q F n? Ia $3 h as shoulder b 'and adownward lyvextending lip'd whiehiforms' 1 m mm 13 bws w fl I I a t j an annular recess"to aeCommddate the ii wa dly and I a appa tu n closmsa p u im apt y ut-wardly cured flangelf surroundingthebpeninggiormedv P 'P Se sm ofxtheispouFto @m m w 'h f anthem of thecan er container'j'ln. as esses" thus ad, b mr erm n ly ss r a wdS b r v mam the containerinzaseal tightfit; o n ss s w r wa m ma is? s it Tit-ems,- ofthe 'S JOuH mviaC-d WaPdIYFaIYY-mg as n? and c s-Y an a Wlth shouldr j d l with I thfl'fleXlblfl" connector estended to spaeethe cap laterally "w r v eck: h r of tile spout, means-supported by said apparatus and exmextendingfi om the mayhem the capc. cap eam-a he si l a umfi 'g s has-a circumferentiaibe-ad b to ngage theishoulde r i; Sald m as 531d i movm'g dm a fl w? 1 The'cap has an annular rece ss p andaeyiindrical side wall n ff 9 FUI P9 ?P z Theupper was; theeylindricalsidewa-ll r istapered andmeans for i i m s a Saul ar a a @9 3 [complementary as afsto the t pering seafh The cap I a v' fi g iw as sand mm F FQ i has a tabtat the front therjeo The captive cap may be folwafdly- I i Y I I i llrepeatediy used for closing spo'u t Y if: I 4. An apparatus for closing a spout wltha capt vecap I unit has-been described, tha uh; 1 ention" sheen-mired ap being connected w a spout by a e connector, II theretobutisapp1icab1e to ny other typeiof spout cap said apparatus includingmeans zforv'supportlng a spout;

unit. i i I i i 1 i i V; l 1 and a captive cap' as a unit and forcarryingsame wlth and di ag ramniatieally of moving theendless;

the endlessfchain 20; The-ope to s'st' ofthe endless belt so thatasthesjbo I f the hopper the operator mavthen jaos't I II I I I holders 38 "on" the endless chain 'a s' the-tcham s moving Continuously forward Adjacent It the flexible connector extended and the cap disposed laterally of the spout, pivotally mounted means supported by said apparatus and extending in the path of travel of said cap andengaging the cap for bending said flexible connector and moving said cap over the spout opening, and means for pressing said cap over said spout to form a seal-tight fit therewith.

, '5. An apparatus for closing a spout with a captive cap prior to securement of the spout to a container with a flexible connector permanently joining said spout and cap, said apparatus including means for supporting and moving a spout and a captive cap as a unit with the cap extended away from the spout, a pivotally supported member supported by said apparatus and extending in the path of movement of said cap and engaging the cap for flexing said flexible connector and moving said cap to cover said spout opening, roller means for pressing said cap in relation to said spout to form a seal-tight fit' therewith, and means for discharging said unit from said apparatus when in sealed condition.

6. An apparatus for closing a spout with a captive cap prior to seourement'of the spout to a container with said cap being permanently joined to said spout by a flexible connector, said apparatus including a continuous conveyor, means for moving said conveyor, a plurality of holding members carried by said conveyor, each holding Vmember adapted to support the spout of a spout and captive cap unit while said unit is being conveyed, means for conveying said unit first in a horizontal direction and then in a vertical direction, pivotally supported means on said apparatus extending in the'path of travel of said uni-t for engaging said cap to bend said flexible connector prior to securement of the spout to a container With said cap ibeing permanently joined to said spout by a flexible connector, said apparatus including a conveyor adapted to carry a plurality of spout and cap units with each of the caps extending away from its respective spout, said conveyor being adapted to carry said units first in a lllOIlZOIltal directioniandtlien in a vertical direction, means engaging said cap While said unit is'moving in a vertical direction, said means including a rocker arm adapted to bend said flexible connector and move said cap to a closing position over the 'spout opening, means including a roller adapted to engage the 'cap and press said cap in a sealtight fit on said spout, and means adapted to move said unit from said conveyor after said cap has been sealed with respect to said spout.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,648,256 Bienestein Nov. 8, 1927 2,670,885 Allen Mar. 2, 1954 2,814,405 Edwards Nov. 26, 1957 2,871,553 Binder Feb. 3, 1959 2,916,811 rWhiteca r' Dec. 15, 1959 2,940,164 Davis June 14, 1960 2,972,184 Andrew Feb. 21, 1961 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A SPOUT WITH A CAPTIVE CAP PRIOR TO SECUREMENT OF THE SPOUT TO A CONTAINER WITH SAID CAP BEING PERMANENTLY JOINED TO SAID SPOUT BY A FLEXIBLE LINK, SAID APPARATUS INCLUDING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND MOVING A SPOUT AND A CAPTIVE CAP AS A UNIT WITH THE FLEXIBLE LINK EXTENDED TO SPACE THE CAP LATERALLY OF THE SPOUT, MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID APPARATUS AND EXTENDING IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID UNIT AND ENGAGING SAID UNIT FOR BENDING SAID FLEXIBLE LINK AND MOVING SAID CAP TO COVER THE SPOUT OPENING, AND MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY PRESSING SAID CAP ON SAID SPOUT TO FORM A SEAL-TIGHT FIT THEREBETWEEN. 